Getting Mom off the Road

Does Your Elderly Loved One Need to Stop Driving? 5 Tips to Convince Them to Give Up Their Keys

Driving is a major concern for individuals whose elderly loved ones are still on the road. Always Best Care, in Chapel Hill, understands that it can be extremely difficult to tell your loved one that it is time to give up their keys; however, keeping the residents of Orange County safe is this organization's primary concern. By following these tips, you can request that your loved one stop driving in a way that is sensitive and kind.

1.       Speak to your loved one in private, as initially addressing your concerns in front of others may embarrass your family members. Clearly explain the situation and speak about the issue. Treat the conversation as a discussion, not an ultimatum.

2.       Highlight the fact that, by continuing to drive, your loved one may be putting others into danger. Knowing that they could cause an accident or injury may be enough to convince your loved one that it is time to stop driving.

3.       Stage an intervention. While this may be overwhelming, it is the next step if your loved one refuses to stop driving after your private conversation. For this method to work, it is important that all participants love and care for your family member and that they only want the best for them. Furthermore, the experience must be a positive one, showing love and support, rather than a negative one that forces the ideas of the group onto your elderly loved one.

4.       Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If a private conversation and an intervention both fail to work, you can report the issue to the DMV. If the issue has become severe enough to make it unlawful for your loved one to drive, the DMV may step in to handle the situation.

5.       Take the keys. If your loved one still insists on driving, and you have exhausted your alternatives, simply take their keys and do not allow them to drive. This may be difficult, emotionally, but if it is done in the best interest of your family then you will be glad you did it.

One of the reasons that many elderly individuals continue to drive is because they do not want to feel isolated in their homes. By assuring your loved one that they will have access to alternative transportation, they may more readily cooperate.

Home care is another way to ease the isolation that one may feel without the ability to drive. At Always Best Care in Chapel Hill, www.alwaysbestcarechapelhill-durham.com, you will find access to senior care providers who can help.